Apparatus for breaking fibrous masses



F. B. MORRILL 3,099,047

3 Sheets-Sheet l July 30, 1963 APPARATUS FOR BREAKING FIBROUS MASSES Filed July 6, 1961 July 30, 1963 F. B. MORRILL APPARATUS FOR BREAKING FIBROUS MASSES 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 6. 1961 INVENTOR. FEA/Vfl B. MODE/LL July 30, 1963 F. B. MORRILL 3,099,047

APPARATUS FOR BREAKING FIBROUS MASSES Filed July 6, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 dllllllfllll FIGB INVENTOR. FQANK MonmLL ATTO? EYS'.

United States Patent O 3,099,047 APPARATUS FR BREAKING Fi'BRUS MASSES Frank B. Morrill, North Adams, Mass., assignor, by

mesne assignments, to Crompton @s Knowles Corporation, Worcester, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Filed July 6, 1961, Ser. No. 122,164 9 Claims. (Cl. 19-81) This invention relates to apparatus for breaking fibrous masses which are known in the textile art as cheeses It has particular reference to a cheese breaker which is operable automatically to break up the cheese, layer by layer, so as to reduce it to a number of relatively small fibrous pieces which can be handled by a conventional feed used in further processing of the fibers.

In the processing of cotton, for example, the fibrous cotton stock is dye-d or bleached in a pressure dyeing machine, w-here the lliquor is circulated from top to bottom by means of a pump. In the operation of the pressure dyeing machine, a perforated bottom is placed in the machine and then the `dry cotton stock is loaded on top of the perforated bottom, the stock being wetted down as it is put into the machine. A cover is then placed -on the machine and circulator of the liquor is started to provide the flow from top to bottom. The fibrous stock is usually maintained in the dyeing machine from about four to ten hours, depending upon whether the stock is being dyed or bleached. Upon completion of lthe bleaching or dyeing cycle, the perforated false bottom on which -the brous `stock rests is pulled out of the machine, as by means of hoisting chains attached to vthe false bottom. The resulting substantially compressed mass of fibers on this perforated bottom is -called a cheese.

Since the pressure bleaching or dyeing machine is loaded in layers, the fibrous stock can be removed from the cheese without too much diiiiculty. However, if -this is done by hand, it is a very laborious job. For instance, :a conventional eight-foot cheese will weigh approximately 2,500 lbs. in the dry state and about 7,000 to 8,000 lbs. when wet, so that the labor of taking one of these cheeses apart is considerable. Furthermore, the fibers are packed very tightly together in the cheese so that they can be removed only by peeling them olf from the top. As the other steps in the processing 4of cotton fibers and the like involve practically no manual handling, it is highly 4desirable to eliminate the usual manual operations in pulling the cheeses apart for subsequent processing of the fibers.

The principal object of the present invention, therefore, resides in the provision of an apparatus for automatically pulling the brous cheese apart for subsequent processing of the fibers.

An apparatus made in accordance with the invention comprises a rotary platform for supporting the fibrous cheese, and means for rotating the platform and the cheese thereon. The cheese may be transported on the previrously-mentioned false bottom to the rotary platform, so that the false bottom rotates with the platform and the overlying cheese. A spiked member is mounted for horizontal movement above the platform and has a plurality of depending spikes engageable with lthe top of the cheese. The spiked member is operatively connected to mechanism for moving this member and its spikes in a horizontal direction to claw bers from the top of the rotating cheese and displace the bers over the periphery of the cheese, whereby Ia layer of bers is removed from the rotating cheese. The apparatus also comprises actuating means for moving one of the spiked members and the rotating platform toward the other in a vertical direction to remove successive layers `of fibers from the rotating cheese by the 'aforesaid horizontal movement of'the spikes. Preferably, ia conveyor is mounted in position lCe to receive fibers displaced over the periphery of the cheese by the spikes.

The new apparatus thus operates automatically to claw the fibers from the cheese layer by layer from top to bottom as the cheese rotates on the platform. Since the spiked member displaces the clawed fibers in la predetermined direction over the periphery of the cheese, the fibers thus removed may be picked up by la relatively narrow underlying conveyor for transporting the fibers to further processing.

The spiked member may be of various forms, such as an endless belt or apron carrying the spikes so that the lower pass of the belt moves the spikes continuously into engagement with the underlying cheese and in a predetermined direction toward the peripheral region :of the cheese, or a reciprocating rake on which the spikes may be pivotally mounted so that they swing to clawing positions on movement of the rake in the predetermined direction toward the conveyor and swing to raised `or non-clawing positions on the return movement of the rake in the opposite direction. In the preferred form of the invention, the spiked member is mounted ion a vertically movable frame to which the actuating means are connected to lower the Iframe toward the rotating platform, whereby successive layers of fibers -are removed from the cheese through the clawing action of the spikes and rotation of the cheese.

These Aand other features of the invention will be better understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which FIG. l is a plan View of ione embodiment of the new cheese breaker;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the cheese breaker shown in FIG. 1, with parts broken away;

FIG. 3 is an end view of the apparatus as seen from the right in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view on the line 4 4 in FIG. 2, showing 'the mounting of two parallel rakes on the vertically movable frame; and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view on line 5-5 in FIkG. 4, showing details of the spikes associated with each ra e.

Referring to the drawings, the apparatus there shown comprises four vertical beams lor uprights secured at their base ends to a floor or other foundation, the upper portions of these uprights being suitably braced in any desired manner (not shown). The uprights 10 form the four corners of a substantially square configuration, and located centrally within this configuration is a horizontal rotary platform 11. Platform 11 is secured to the upper end of a vertical shaft 12 rotatably mounted and supported in a bearing structure 13 on the foundation (FIG. 2). An electric motor 14 is secured to the bearing structure 13, and the -motor shaft is connected through gearing 15 to the vertical shaft 12. As the platform 11 is preferably rotated at a relatively low speed, for example 1 rpm., the motor 14 may be provided with suitable reduction gearing if necessary. As previously mentioned, the perforated false bottom B is transported from the pressure bleaching or dyeing machine, with the fibrous cheese `C resting thereon, and is placed on the rotary platform 11, so that the latter is adapted to rotate the false bottom B and the overlying cheese as a unit.

A conveyor 17 in the form of an endless belt is located below the rotary platform 11 in position to receive fibers clawed from the cheese C and convey the fibers to a desired destination. As shown, the endless belt 17 extends around a horizontal roll 18 which is rotatably mounted at its ends in stationary vertical supports 19 below the platform 11, it being understood that the belt 17 extends around a similar roll (not shown) located at the desired destination and is driven so that the fibrous material falling on the upper pass of the belt is conveyed away from the cheese breaker.

A pair of parallel cross members 21 are movable vertically in vertical guide-ways or channels a in lthe uprights 10. More particularly, each cross member 21 has its end portions disposed in the vertical channels 10a of opposing uprights 10. Intermediate their ends, the cross members 21 are secured to a horizontal member 22 eX- tending lengthwise of the apparatus. Thus, the cross members 21 and longitudinal member 22 form a -vertically movable 'frame which may be raised and lowered relative to the underlying rotary platform 11.

A shaft 23 is' rotatably mounted above one of the cross members 21 but is offset `laterally therefrom, as `shown in FIG. l. Similarly, a shaft 23a is rotatably mounted above the other cross member 21 but is offset laterally therefrom. The 'shafts 23 and 23a each carry a pair of sprocket wheels 24 and 24a, respectively. These shafts vare rotatably mounted at their ends in brackets v25 on the corresponding uprights 16. A chain 26 extends over each sprocket 24-24a and is secured at one end of the underlying cross member 21, as shown at 27 in FIG. 3. From the point of attachment 27, each chain 26? extends over the corresponding sprocket 24 and then 'downwardly 4and around a lower sprocket -28 Aand upwardly to the overlying cross 'member 21, to which 'the opposite end of the chain is secured as shown 'at 29 in FIG. 3. I The lower sprockets 28 of each pair are mounted on `a shaft 30 rotatable in brackets 30a at the bottom portions of the corresponding uprights 10. It will be apparent, therefore, that rotation ofthe shafts v23--23a`in one direction will lower the horizontal frame 21-22, While rotation of these shafts in the opposite direction will raise the frame 2l-22.

One end of each shaft 23-23a projects through the corresponding bracket 25, the `projecting parts of these shafts being provided with bevel gears 32 -and 32a, respectively. These Ygears mesh with bevel 'gears 33 and 33a, respectively, mounted on -the lopposite ends fof a shaft 34 which is'rotatably mounted -in brackets 35 on-the adjacent uprights 10 (FIGS. l and 3`). The shaft v34 carries a sprocket 36 over whicha'ch'ain '37 extends. One end of this'chain lisf's'eeur'ed ft'othe upper end ofa :piston rod 38 extending'from a vertically disposedcylinder 39, the lower end of which is secured to the foundation. The other end of chain 37 is connected'to a counterweight 40 which serves to maintain the chain 37 in driving engagement with the teeth of sprocket 36.

Hydraulic fluid may be forced through a valved pipe line 39a into the upper end of cylinder 39, thereby acting on the piston (not shown) to depress the piston rod 38. As a result, chain 37 acts through sprocket 36, shaft 34 and beveled gearing 32-33 and 32a-33a to drive the shafts 23 and 23a in the direction to raise the horizontal frame 21--22. With the frame 21--22 thus raised, Ithe valve 39b in hydraulic line 39a may be closed to maintain the frame in its raised position. The frame may be lowered at a constant rate by bleeding olf hydraulic fluid from cylinder 39 through pipe line 39a at a constant rate, as by adjusting valve 39h to provide a desired bleed-o rate corresponding to the desired rate of descent of frame 21-22.

The frame 2.1-22 carries a pair of spiked members in the for-m of rakes 42 and 42a having depending spikes 43 and 43a, respectively. The rakes 42 and 42a are elongated and are mounted for longitudinal movement lengthwise of the frame member 22. More particularly, the two rakes are supported in parallel spaced relation to each other in dovetailed slots in frame member 22, as best shown in FIG. 4, these slots serving to guide the rakes 42-42a for horizontal reciprocating movements above the rotary platform 11, whereby the spikes `4-3---43a are engageable with the top of the cheese C on the rotary platform.

The rakes 42-42a are adapted to be reciprocated in forward and reverse directions by mechanism comprising an electric motor 45 mounted on a table Vextension 22a of frameI member 22, the motor shaft 46 extending above the table and transversely of frame member 22. The table 22a has a pair of depending brackets 47 disposed in parallel spaced relation to each other, and a stub shaft 48 is rotatably mounted in each bracket 47. Each stub shaft 4S is adapted to be driven from motor shaft 46 by means of a chain 49 extending through a slot in table 22a and mounted on sprockets Sii-50a carried by the motor shaft and stub shaft, respectively (FIG. 2). Thus, the motor 45 is adapted to drive the two stub shafts 48 through the respective sprocket chains 49.

Each `stub shaft 4S carries a crank Wheel 52 which fis connected by a crank pin 52a to one end of la crank arm 53, the two crank arms 53 being aligned with the rakes 42 and 42a, respectively, and being connected thereto by pivot pins 54 and 54a, respectively. As shown in FIG. l, the crank pin 52a Afor the rake 42 is displaced 180 degrees around the common taxis of stub shafts 48 from the crank pin 52a for the other rake 42a. Accordingly, the motor 45 operates through the two crank wheels 52 and :their corresponding crank arms 53 `to reciprocate the corresponding rakes lengthwise of the frame member 22, the rake 42 being advanced while the rake 42a is retracted, and vice versa. Also, as best shown in FIG. 1, the horizontal direction of iadvance of each rake l2-42a is from the central portion of the underlying rotary plattform 11 and toward the central part of the conveyor belt 17 underlying the peripheral portion of cheese C yon the rotary platform.

The details of the rakes 42-42a are shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. As there shown, `each rake is provided along its upper ledge `with la ange or head 56 which has a close sliding fit in the corresponding dovetailed slot in frame member 22. Each rake has a narrow portion extending downwardly from its enlarged head 56 and fitted with a close sliding lit in the throat portion of the corresponding dovetailed slot. rl'lhe narrow portion of each rake 42-42'a projects .below the bottom of frame member 22 and is provided with a downwardly opening groove 57 extending lengthwise of the rake. A series of pivot pins 58 are spaced along each rake 42-42a and extend transversely through fthe longitudinal groove 57 in the corresponding rake. The spikes 43 `and 43a are rigidly connected to spike carriers '59, each Iof which is pivotally mounted at its upper portion on one of lthe pins 58, the spike carriers 59 extending downwardly through the bottom of the corresponding groove 57 so Ithat the depending spikes fare engageable lat their lower 'pointed ends with the cheese C.

Each spike carrier 59 is engageable with a stop 60 welded or otherwise secured to the lower surface of the colresponding vrake member 42 or 42a. In the `advance movement of each rake (to .the left -in FIGS. l and 2), the stops 60 hold the respective spikes Iso that they exrtend downwardly and somewhat in the direction of the advance, whereby the spikes are yoperable to claw ra layer of fibers Vfrom .the top of the rotating cheese C. However, when the rake reaches the lend off its advance movement and begins Vto retract (to the right in FIGS. l and 2); the corresponding spikes 43 or 43a pivot away from their respective stops 60 and are held by lthe underlying cheese C in raised positions las the spikes slide back along the top of the cheese. When the rake again reverses its 'direct-ion and starts its advance movement, `the corresponding spikes dig into .the top `of the cheese and pivot back to their clawing positions against the respective stops 60.

.In the operation of the illustrated form of the apparatus, the cylinder or hydraulic actuating means 3939a39b is operated to raise the lframe 21-22, the frame being lleld in its raised position by closing of vlalve 3%. This enables the cheese C to be placed upon the rotary platform 11 below'the rakes 42-4211. 'Ilhe platform /1-1 is then rotated by operation of motor 14, and the valve acecha? 39b of the hydraulic actuating means is partly opened to an extent sufficient to bleed ofi lthe hydraulic fluid from cylinder 39 lat `a rate corresponding to the desired rate of descent of `trame Zl-ZZ. With the motor 45 operating to reciprocate the rakes 42--42a, the depending spikes of these rakes descend into contact with the cheese and act to claw fibers from the top `of the rotating cheese, as previously described, and convey the fibers so released over the peripheral portion of the cheese above the conveyor belt 17, whereupon the bers fall from the spikes and are carried faway on conveyor belt l17. When each rake reaches its outermost position .and -begins its retracting movement, the corresponding spikes lare pivoted to their raised position, as described ihereinbefore, so that the retracting movement of the rake serves to wipe trom the spikes any fibers which might otherwise be retained thereon.

It will be observed that one of the two rakes t2-42a is advancing to claw fibers from the cheese while the other rake is being retracted, with the result :that there is ya substantially continuous clawing lof fibers from the cheese and outward displacement iof the fibers from the central portion of the cheese toward its periphery above the conveyor belt Ias the cheese rotates. Due to the continuous downward movement `of `frame 21-22 under control of the actuating means 39-39a-39b, the freciprocation of rakes `4t2-42a will remove the fibers layer by layer from the rotating cheese and onto fthe conveyor 17, until the cheese is completely broken up Iand removed from the false bottom B. A stop (-not shown) may be provided to the downward movement of frame 21-22, thereby preventing `engagement yof the spikes with the false bottom B iat the end of the cheese-disintegnating operation.

In some cases, fibers clawed or torn from the cheese by the spikes may over-hang the peripheral edge of the cheese instead of dropping on to the conveyor under 4the action of .the reciprocating Takes. In such cases, -a beater (not shown) may be located in position to trim these loosened fibers from the cheese so that they will lnot interfere with 'the normal operation `of the apparatus.

It will be understood that the rakes 42-42'a are not required to be of lsuch length that their spikes can claw in one pass across the `entire diameter `of the cheese. That is, tdue to the rotation `of the cheese, it is necessary only that the spikes `exert a clawing action radially outward from the central portion of the cheese. Of course, the throw of each reciprocating rake and the distribution of the spikes along the rake -should be such that each advance movement fof the rake removes the underlying fibrous layer of the rotating cheese from the central portion of 'the latter to its periphery and displaces these released bers over -the periphery of the cheese so that they will drop onto the conveyor 17.

l claim:

l. Apparatus for breaking up a fibrous cheese which comprises a rotary platform member for supporting the fibrous cheese, means for rotating the platform member and the cheese thereon, a spiked member mounted for horizontal movement above the platform -member and having -a plurality of depending spikes engageable with the top of said cheese, mechanism operatively connected to said spiked member `for moving said spikes in a horizontal direction to claw `fibers from the rotating cheese 6 and displace the fibers over the periphery of the cheese, whereby a layer of fibers is removed from the rotating cheese, and Vactu-ating means for moving one of said members toward the other member in a Vertical direction to remove successive layers of fibers from the rotating cheese by said horizontal movement of the spikes.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, comprising also a conveyor mounted in position to receive bers displaced over the periphery of the cheese by the spikes.

3. Apparatus according to 4claim l, in which the spiked Aember is .a rake, said mechanism being operable to reciprocate the rake.

4. Apparatus according to cl-aim l, in which the spiked member is a rake, said mechanism being operable to reciprocate the rake in a forward and .a reverse direction, said spikes being pivotally mounted on the rake land adapted to be swung to raised positions by engagement with the cheese upon movement of the rake in said reverse direction.

5. Apparatus according to claim il, comprising also a vertically movable frame on which the spiked member is mounted for said horizontal movement, said actuating means `being operatively connected to the frame for lowering the frame and spiked member toward the rotating platform member.

6. Apparatus according to claim l, comprising also a vertically movable frame on which the spiked member is mounted for said horizontal movement, said actuating means being operatively connected to the frame for loW- ering the frame and spiked member toward the rotating platform member, said mechanism for moving the spiked member in said horizontal direction being mounted on the vertically movable yframe.

7. Apparatus for breaking up ya fibrous cheese, which comprises a rotary platform for supporting the cheese, means for rotating the platform and the cheese thereon, a frame mounted for vertical movements above the platform, a pair of parallel rakes mounted for horizontal reciprocating movements on the frame, each rake having a row of depending spikes engageable with the top of said cheese, mechanism operatively connected to said rakes for reciprocating them horizontally in opposite but parallel directions to cause the spikes to claw fibers lfrom the rotating cheese and displace the fibers over the periphery of the cheese, whereby a layer of fibers is removed from the rotating cheese, and actuating rmeans yoperatively connected to said frame for lowering it to remove successive layers of fibers from the rotating cheese by said reciprocation of the spiked rakes.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7, in which the spikes `are pivotally mounted on the respective rakes and `are adapted to be lswung to raised, non-clawing positions by engagement with the cheese upon movement of the respective rake in Ione direction.

9. Apparatus according to claim 7, in which the spikes are pivotally mountedv `on the respective rakes and are `adapted to be `swung to raised, non-clawing positions by engagement with the cheese upon movement of the respective rake in one direction, the apparatus comprising also a conveyor mounted in position to receive fibers displaced over the periphery of the cheese by the spikes.

No references cited. 

1. APPARATUS FOR BREAKING UP A FIBROUS CHEESE WHICH COMPRISES A ROTARY PLATFORM MEMBER FOR SUPPORTING THE FIBROUS CHEESE, MEANS FOR ROTATING THE PLATFORM MEMBER AND THE CHEESE THEREON, A SPIKED MEMBER MOUNTED FOR HORIZONTAL MOVEMENT ABOVE THE PLATFORM MEMBER AND HAVING A PLURALITY OF DEPENDING SPIKES ENGAGEABLE WITH THE TOP OF SAID CHEESE, MECHANISM OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID SPIKED MEMBER FOR MOVING SAID SPIKES IN A HORIZONTAL DIRECTION TO CLAW FIBERS FROM THE ROTATING CHEESE AND DISPLACE THE FIBERS OVER THE PERIPHERY OF THE CHEESE WHEREBY A LAYER OF FIBERS IS REMOVED FROM ONE OF SAID CHEESE, AND ACTUATING MEANS FOR MOVING ONE OF SAID MEMBERS TOWARD THE OTHER MEMBER IN A VERTICAL DIRECTION TO REMOVE SUCCESSIVE LAYERS OF FIBERS FROM THE ROTATING CHEESE BY SAID HORIZONTAL MOVEMENT OF THE SPIKES. 